Pool Makeover: Six Unique Ideas

If you are lucky enough to have a pool it will often be the focal point of your backyard or outdoor area. If this area becomes tired or in need of some TLC, faults tend to be highlighted. In the following article, we will examine a range of unique and often cost-effective options to give your pool a makeover.

Idea 1. Install LED lighting 

Lighting is a great way to highlight your pool and the surrounding area. Clever use of lighting can ensure your pool becomes a real feature, especially at night. Recent technological advances offer a variety of alternatives to traditional swimming pool lighting.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an emergent technology in outdoor illumination and are now available in submerged lighting. LEDs are tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electric circuit. Many pool owners choose them over incandescent bulbs because they neither get hot nor do they have a filament to burn out.

Install LED lights around your decking and surrounding garden area, as well as in the pool itself.

Up-lighting which highlights landscaping elements around a pool is another great way to create a touch of class. Consider creating a wall of light using a series of visually appealing trees. The trees do not need to be on the edge of the property. They may be relatively close to the pool deck, thereby narrowing the view to the immediate area. A general rule of thumb is that the brightest lighting should be the most distant.

Idea 2. Introduce Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf is a great option for those who want the look and feel of soft grass around their pool. Because it is water-resistant, there will no puddles to slip on, which is great for families with small children. Synthetic turf is also ideal for homeowners who want a low-maintenance pool area, because they don’t need much upkeep other than an occasional sweeping. Recent advances in the quality of synthetic turf ensures that it will continue to look great for many years to come.

Synthetic turf is easy to install, all you just need to ensure is that the correct preparation is followed, particularly that the base is compact and level.

Idea 3. Clever use of Plants

Recently there has been a shift towards using architectural, durable and drought-resistant plants when landscaping around pools, with succulents popular.

Succulents are a great choice for drought-resistant gardens because they can withstand infrequent watering and extended dry spells. There’s also no shortage of design possibilities since these plants come in all sorts of interesting forms, colours, and textures. Succulents don’t need much maintenance and can easily be planted in pots –  thus are perfect for budget-conscious makeovers.

Idea 4. Install Modern Decking

Decking is a great way to modernise your pool area. It is generallyy available in a wide range of style and colour options to complement the style of your home or the overall look that you want to achieve.

Developments in technology have also bred low-maintenance decking options, including composite decking. A quality composite product not only looks and feels like natural wood, but also contains anti-slip properties, making it an ideal solution for your pool area.

Idea 5. Refresh the Paving

Frequently the paving around a pool area can become weathered because of the constant contact with chemicals and water. If you have a larger budget, replacing paving with either new paving, poured concrete or decking could be an ideal solution as it provides an instant and drastic makeover. However, if this is not an option, you can still refresh the paving through a couple of smart options.

One option is to high pressure clean the brick paving. This can be done by hiring a high-pressure cleaner, or you can engage a professional. As can be noted from the picture below, this can often have an instant and drastic effect.

Another option is to recoat / paint the paving with a specialised pool paving paint. These paints are designed to be used around pools and often contain rubberised and non-slip properties to ensure the paving not only looks great but is safe as well.

Idea 6. Add a water feature

A great way to add a feature (on a budget) is to add a water feature. If you choose this option you can get creative on a reasonable budget. Often people use ceramic pots to create water features. Creating an element of fantasy is key to creating a unique pool area.

Among the most popular ideas include adding fountains and water falls. Water features are a great way to create a memorable feature for a pool area and have the added benefit of creating a soothing and relaxing ambience.

Idea 7. Upgrade Your Pool Fencing

Pool fencing is not only an important safety element in your pool area, but it can assist in creating a beautiful space as well.

The recent trend in pool fencing is to use glass pool fencing. Although this looks great, you need to remember that there are additional cleaning requirements. We recommend that if you are going to install glass pool fencing you apply a protective coating to the glass like Enduroshield, which can reduce cleaning time by up to 90%. At Fencemakers we are a qualified Enduroshield applicator and we are more than happy to provide a quote for applying this product.

Another pool fencing option is aluminium or steel tubular pool fencing. This is a robust, simple and contemporary pool fencing option – especially if you choose any of our flat top fencing designs like our Caulfield, Fortview or Radison range.

If you are considering updating your pool fencing or gates, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can arrange for a sales representative to come and discuss the options available.